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Issues in Biotechnology

Issues in Biotechnology. Attempts to improve on nature Modifying genes, tissues, organisms The interface of animal and machine Goal: improve human welfare. Issues in Biotechnology. Stem cell research (embryonic vs. adult) Cloning Anti-aging Cryonics

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Issues in Biotechnology

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  1. Issues in Biotechnology • Attempts to improve on nature • Modifying genes, tissues, organisms • The interface of animal and machine • Goal: improve human welfare

  2. Issues in Biotechnology • Stem cell research (embryonic vs. adult) • Cloning • Anti-aging • Cryonics • Genetic engineering (agriculture, medicine, industry) • Cybernetics/Bionics • Transhumanism/Extropianism

  3. AbortionCon: Don Marquis • Pro-lifer: Must show why biological characteristics should make a moral difference. • Pro-choicer: Must show why psychological characteristics should make a moral difference

  4. AbortionCon: Don Marquis • “[the pro-choicer] may attempt to find reasons why killing infants, young children, and the severely retarded is wrong which are independent of her major principle that is supposed to explain the wrongness of taking human life, but which will not also make abortion immoral. This is no easy task.” (p. 100)

  5. AbortionCon: Don Marquis • What makes murder wrong the deprivation of a worthwhile future • The deprivation of a worthwhile future is present in abortion, but not in contraception, because there is no existing being who is being deprived of a future, only bare potential

  6. AbortionCon: Don Marquis • There is no duty to maximize potential. • There IS a duty to NOT to deprive existing beings of worthwhile futures.

  7. AbortionPro: Little • Early human life as valuable and “respect-worthy” but neither sacred nor having rights • Gradualism • Gestational assistance • Violinist example • Wrongness increases as fetus’ value grows with development

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